In searching for a topic to write about, I discovered two articles that relate to one another. The first article, by Jean Moore, was about a group of librarians from California who are promoting a exhibit in their library of all literature that has been banned by the school boards. Some of the books include "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", "To Kill a Mockingbird "and "Lord of the Flies". However, not all books that are being recognized have "officially" been banned but rather challenged by the public. The second article that caught my attention, that was related to Moore’s, was one by James Daly called, "Film Flammed: Some Teachers Get Flak for Showing Flicks". Daly gave numerous examples of teachers showing movies to students then getting complaints about the content that was shown. For instance, one substitute teacher had a lawsuit filed against her after she showed "Brokeback Mountain" to a class of eighth graders. The student’s parents claimed their child has suffered psychological distress after viewing the movie. Another complaint came after a high school teacher showed "An Inconvenient Truth". Parents argued, "the school didn’t present a balanced perspective about the film’s warning of global warming."
Each article raises questions of censorship and what is deemed appropriate for schools to use as teaching materials. Films provide excellent sources of reference and resource for students. It also is a much more entertaining and effective way to present information (i.e. global warming) to students. Students will more likely pay closer attention to a film rather than a textbook. However, should teachers have freedom to choose what they feel as, appropriate films or novels?
I believe that teachers should have the freedom of authority to teach any film or novel to their students. Obviously that is a very controversial statement and of course there is rules to follow. Teachers must inform the class of each film or novel and explain to them the some strong language, violence, sexual content, etc., that could be involved. If a student feels uncomfortable with such a novel or film they can express it with the teacher and an exception can be made.
I feel that high school students are mature and old enough to decide for themselves what is appropriate and what isn’t. I recall reading "Lord of the Flies" in tenth grade, which is a novel that includes cannibalism and death. I also watched a movie on "Macbeth" that had full frontal nudity. If parents feel that such novels and films are inappropriate for their children then perhaps teachers should begin reading Clifford books and showing Disney movies.
All in all, teachers are trying to prepare students for college and for life. This includes teaching novels and films about real life that includes sex, violence, drugs and "global warming".
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2 comments:
I would have to agree with Chad on the arguments made about censorship in the classroom. I think it is ridiculous that parents have such a problem with the books that their children are reading, considering the kinds of things they are wathcing on television are problem worse. The only thing I am unsure of is what movies can be viewed. For instance, Broke Back Mountain being viewed by 8th graders is a little inappropriate. Those students are still very young and may not have been exposed to things present in that movie. I can understand why parents would be uncomfortable with that. However, that does not give the right to parents to say to teachers that certain things should be excluded from their teaching.
I absolutely agree with Chad. If the teacher can give the students fair warning about the movie there is no reason it should not be allowed. Perhaps letting them view such things as nudity and violence in a controlled environment could help increase their maturity about those things in the future.
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